About

Founded in 2010 by three Lower East Side locals, the Hester Street Fair has set the standard for what a market is, while transcending the notion and meaning of a typical “food court” or “flea” to become a one-of-a-kind curious, cultural and community gathering, drawing from the diversity of the neighborhood and New York City at large.

Our mission is to empower pursuits of passion

Since 2010, Hester Street Fair has been the starting point for hundreds of such pursuits

We pride ourselves on being the most accessible market in New York City, not only in price or location, but the simple fact that all you need to do is show up. We have tents, tables, chairs, and a community, where everyone helps each other out. Need a sign? We can help. Wondering what to do about marketing and pricing? No problem. Want to lead an impromptu yoga meditation or get on the mic and sing a song? We can make that happen too.

“We Started Here”

Last year nearly 40 businesses made their first dollar at the Hester Street Fair, many of which were started as passion projects by people with full time jobs during the week, or those who recently quit their “9-5”, those who retired, and some not even old enough to be in high school. Many established brick and mortars in New York City and beyond, like Macaron Parlour, Melt Bakery, Gordos Cantina, Osaka Grub, Peetie’s Pie, La New Yorkina, Arancini Bros, Cheeky Sandwich, started at the Hester Street Fair and many more will continue to do so in 2017.

Our audience is hyper local on a worldwide scale -our visitors’ diversity spans across all race, income and age, bringing them together every Saturday by one common ground -“good vibes”.

In 2016 Hester Street Fair events welcomed over 350,000 visitors

Our weekly Saturday market continues to draw the crowds for its 8th year in a row. Some of our favorite themes were:

Total Independence with Tiger Beer and Stretch Armstrong

Neighborhood Independence Day celebration with beats by Stretch Armstrong, beer by Tiger Beer, and a BBQ plate by Black Tree.

OMF: Outdoor Music + Food

An intimate Sunday evening with music by Miho Hatari, Patrick Higgins, and the duo MSHR. Watch the videos here

NY Magazine’s Grub Street Food Festival presented by Citi

Our annual food festival with New York Magazine and Grub Street continues to be a hit, drawing in over 80 of the top restaurants and food vendors in New York City and 15,000 people in one afternoon. Watch the video here

Casual Art Fair

Echoing a contemporary art fair – Casual Art Fair created an affordable space for galleries, project spaces, collectives, and experimental retail projects, all gathering outdoors to share their most current excitements, artists, and projects Watch the video here

HBO Monday Night Movies in Bryant Park

Hester Street Fair Gift Shop Miami

Hester Street Fair set up two storefronts at the Deauville Hotel during Art Basel Miami, playing homage to the traditional and sometimes absurd diversity of a beachside gift shop. Featuring over 50 contributors, including a bootleg Katz’s Miami, with gifts ranging from $8 key chains to a $3800 jacket from the future. Watch the video here

Hester Street Fair Holiday Market at the Seaport District NYC

Hester Street Fair’s Holiday Market at the Seaport District NYC included over 40 local vendors with plenty of holiday shopping and cheer for all. Special events included Wine Wednesdays for the neighborhood and studio holiday pet portraits. Watch the video here

And now on the corner too

A few blocks south of our outdoor market is the Hester Street Fair Project Space a multi-floor ground level corner “fishbowl.” Opening this past January we already hosted an impromptu five hour jam session with Georgia & Friends, Bard student film screening, a baby-shower, new fashion brand Everybody’s first informal retail shop and a T-Shirt show with over 40 artists, made to order with proceeds going to the ACLU.

We are also online with exclusive “pop-up” shopping

We believe that our special markets and events should be experienced by everyone so while they are happening products are available for purchase online, accessible to any one any where, even those who live in New York City.

We support our community and charitable partners

Supporting charitable partners is an integral part of the Hester Street Fair. We seek out charities to align with specific events, for instance, Lower East Side Girls Club was part of Girl Power Day, Green Beetz was part of Grub Street Food Festival, and some we support because our community came to use to help their cause. We will continue integrating charitable partners in our market to help make our local and global community better.

Join us in the park, at the project space, in your city or place, as a vendor, partner, or sponsor. We welcome all possibilities.

Hester Street Fair

Join us in the park for some good vibes, familiar faces, food, music, memories and gifts for your friends and yourself.